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Writer's pictureFlyRoute

On The Fly Newsletter 9/13/23 - issue 3


BREAKING: FAA Remote ID Deadline Extended 6 Months

photo credit: dronetag.cz

As of today, September 13th 2013, the FAA has announced that drone operators will now have an additional 6 months of time to comply with the Remote ID requirements. Drone operators will now have until March 16th, 2024 to comply with Remote ID requirements. If not in compliance, operators can face penalties and fines.


The FAA announcement:


Drone pilots who are unable to comply with the broadcast requirement of the Remote ID Rule will now have until March 16, 2024, to equip their aircraft. After that date, operators could face fines and suspension or revocation of pilot certificates. In making this decision, the FAA recognizes the unanticipated issues that some operators are experiencing finding some remote identification broadcast modules. Drone pilots can meet this deadline by purchasing a standard Remote ID equipped drone from a manufacturer or purchasing a Remote ID broadcast module which can be affixed to existing drones that do not have Remote ID equipment. Remote ID acts like a digital license plate and will help the FAA, law enforcement, and other federal agencies find the control station when a drone appears to be flying in an unsafe manner or where it is not allowed to fly.


To learn more about Remote ID, who is impacted, which drones are impacted, and which remote ID modules we recommend, visit our news post post: New FAA Requirement Impacts All Drone Operators.


FlyRoute Drone Operations


Week 3 of the football season we supported 42 high school football events. This includes practices and regular season games. Weather permitted all drone operations -- it's always good to be in the air!

Hey! I can see my house from here!

Shoutout to Jeremy Stockdill (highlighted in On The Fly Newsletter 9/6/23 - issue 2) for going above and beyond and capturing some aerial photos for his team's athletic director and school. The stadium pictured is Canon McMillan stadium in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, which is just right outside of Pittsburgh. Great shot, Jeremy!



Drone Pilot Spotlight: Bill Lickman


Bill: I am a retired US Air Force Investigator, reworking my skills to become a visual documentarian that uses various types of video and photo cameras to capture moments and relay stories to viewers. Since retiring in 2020, I have been a full-time student at Middle Tennessee State University, studying Video & Film Production, Mass Communication and Unmanned Aircraft Systems. During this time, I have been lucky to have multiple opportunities to build my skills as a cinematographer, photographer, broadcast cameraman and drone pilot. This has included working on local video projects for ESPN, PBS, ABC, NBC and Hulu, working on narrative film and television projects in the Nashville area, and spending summers abroad filming documentaries in Brazil and France. Outside of work and education, I stay busy by spending time with my family, exercising, photographing wildlife, and volunteering with various non-profit organizations.


You found out about FlyRoute through Middle Tennessee State University's drone program. How did MTSU prepare you to become a proficient drone pilot?


Unlike most students in MTSU’s drone program, I am only minoring in Unmanned Aircraft Systems, so I’m only receiving half of the instruction as those students who are majoring in it. That being said, the instruction I have received has given me a thorough grasp of legal requirements and policies, a good understanding of how drones are constructed and programmed, and proficient knowledge of flight characteristics for both multi-rotor and fixed-wing aircraft to safely and skillfully conduct UAS operations. All of this has been accomplished through a mix of traditional lectures, weekly flight labs at the MTSU farm, and various real-world flight opportunities outside of the classroom.

How has your military experience helped you in planning and executing safe drone operations?

Throughout my career, I planned and executed various high-risk operations such as armed apprehensions, protective details for US Presidents, intelligence collections in semi-permissive foreign nations, and post-blast investigations in combat zones. No matter the mission or the environment, however, safety was always the foremost concern. Ensuring safe operations came from having keen attention to detail, understanding my (and my teams’) own skill levels and equipment, being aware of local hazards/threats, and taking steps to mitigate any potential risks. Much of this easily translates over to conducting drone operations.

What do you hope to achieve as a professional drone pilot and videographer?


My goal is to create a successful career as a documentary filmmaker/photographer capable of capturing imagery via terrestrial, aerial and underwater platforms. My work interests primarily involve themes such as military/veteran issues, wildlife/nature conservation, and competitive sports.




Fly Safe, Film Smooth, Have FUN!


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